Assaulted, intimidated or harassed in custody?

"Then make an Apprehended Violence Order application against the police, says assault victim Ms Teresa Kiernan.

On 29th July 2005, the Downing Centre Local Court heard an application against Leading Constable Mathew O'Neil of Surry Hills Police Station.

The court heard that O'Neil and his colleagues threw Teresa Kiernan on the floor in a concrete cell, pushed and shoved her, deliberately caused her to be parted from her essential possessions during her arrest, and unnecessarily teased, jeered and humiliated her.

"I believe there are only two reasons why police abuse vulnerable people in custody" Ms Kiernan said to Magistrate Timothy Keady. "The first is to influence by fear. Police try to get arrested people to plead guilty by using intimidation. The second is because there is no evidence or witnesses, and violent and abusive people throughout the ages have always committed such crimes in this condition."

The AVO application was heard in a matter of minutes before it was dismissed. "To everybody's credit, everybody kept a straight face." says Ms Kiernan. "The industry is not going to cause detriment to one of its own. I note that public servants, lawyers, security guards, police and correctives manage to escape the AVO system."

An AVO means a defendant cannot have a gun license for ten years and cannot work in law enforcement, as well as experience other barriers. My point is that cops, screws, security guards need gun licenses. .. a cop with an AVO is finshed: he will lose his job.

Department of Corrective Services staff can't be employed if they have an AVO. Magistrate Pat O'Shane had an AVO put on her and now can't hear domestic violence cases, thus her employment prospects have been reduced. The legal industry doesn't give a hoot about violence and abuse: all its employees are violent and abusive themselves and they are not getting AVOs put on them.

AVOs in NSW are serious business, with the industry slapping AVOs on people at an alarming rate without the benefit of sophisticated and robust legal system. There is an extraordinary lack of support and structure for defendants in the system, which seems to be looking for new ways to criminalise and marginalise people.

The majority of people in custody in NSW are defendants accused of breaching AVOs, and may be arrested merely on the say-so of an amonial other.

"If every person who got mistreated in custody made an AVO application against abusive police officers, or at least the ringleader, NSW would capture a more accurate profile about abuse of its police powers" says Ms Kiernan.

"It is a well established culture that police know where the video footage is in custody and where it isn't; it is a game to them to dodge it." In addition, Ms Kiernan points out, making an AVO application against a police officer intervenes in the police's intimidation tactics in the court environment, engaged in so that defendants can be as rattled as possible before gracing the witness box.

"From a scientific point of view, it costs the police money to get their own lawyers to defend their own officer's behaviour. This, coupled with the public embarrasment factor, is a deterrent for abuse of police powers."

"We can only send our condolences to Tracey Twaddle, who I am sure doesn't think it is a game." Ms Twaddles husband, died in police custody in Palm Island last November from four broken ribs and a ruptured liver, where video surveillance only partially covered the police custody area.

By InJust Us posted 9 August 05

Related Comments:

From the Indymedia news wire:

Full story, please
by Vas Deferens Friday August 12, 2005 at 05:31 PM

On the one hand, the author is implicitly criticising the 'system' for discharging the defendant (the police officer) in this case. Yet on the other, she laments the lack of support and structure for defendants in the system. Oh, that must be unless the defendant is a cop. We can't have rights for everyone, I guess. She's right about AVOs having a seriously detrimental effect on police and others in the legal system. What a great tactic it is for defendants and their lawyers to hamstring law enforcement by bringing vexatious AVO complaints against the police. Little cost if they lose, big result for the crook if they win.

Please give us more facts about the above case. What was she charged with? Were there any corroborative injuries presented in evidence? Did she give sworn evidence and was she cross examined? More details please. You say it was over in a minute. Did she withdraw the application? If it proceeded, there is no way it could have been heard in a minute.

Give us the whole truth, not just the hyperbolic rant which shows your prejudice.

Keep up the good work
by Gregory Saturday August 13, 2005 at 04:43 PM

Hi Vas Deferens,

I guess if you followed the links you'd get the picture sure enough and in my opinion, what this person said was quite true.

Cops and a range of others can harass the community, use corporal punishment, inflict sexual assault, strip-search, plant evidence, verbal them, threaten them, place them in a dangerous situation, in a confined space or psychologically abuse them in custody just because they've been accused of some breach of the law. And some cops are truly arseholes. Personally I've had to tell one or two off myself at the Downing Centre during an AVO hearing that they should get a real job because these losers were bullies who used their power to intimidate, harass and victimise people! Were they on drugs? Well you'd have to ask them!

The AVO was brought on by a politician against her constituent that sought her help because he was being harassed by the police. Ring a bell? But these Surry Hills police were smarter than your average dumb cops so they got in first. So when the complainant's politician contacted the police to complain on behalf of her constituent the police told the politician that her constituent was dangerous and that she should avoid her constituent at all costs?

Hence the politician then took out an AVO against her constituent. I have the paperwork to prove it accept no tribunal will here it! And if you were a politician why wouldn't you believe the police over your constituent's concerns? Any person can have an AVO made out if they can prove they have a reasonable fear of another person. So I guess AVO's work for people who use them no matter who is in the right because right in not determined on whether there is a 'reasonable fear'.

Keep up the good work Teresa.

Assaulted, intimidated or harassed in custody?
By InJust Us Sunday August 14, 2005 at 12:41 PM

Thanks for your response and the questions you raise Vas. Yes I am highly critical of the AVO system, and yes I am highly critical of the magistrate dismissing the case within minutes without hearing sworn evidence and forensic evidence that proves injury, just because the defendant is a cop. Yes I am highly critical where most defendants in AVOs can't afford lawyers, yet when the defendant is a cop the public purse pays for his lawyer. I do not think this is in the public interest.

It wasn't a veracious application, Vas. Police are seasoned and cunning at abusing people in custody. That is one of the reasons why we had a Royal Commission and that is why the public purse pays for video cameras in police cells, and why in NSW we spent millions of dollars per year running a Police Integrity Commission and an Ombudsman's office and even a commission against Corruption. None of these things work in terms of accountability, I believe. You have to hold police accountable yourself by taking them to the courts. Problem is, like all abusive people, they're a bit sly and know how to assault people without leaving evidence, and know where there video surveillance isn't. Yes I agree with you that one of the problems with AVO's is that there is little cost if the applicant loses, and a big impact for the defendant if the AVO is made.

I was charged with knowingly contravening an AVO. I did have corroborative injuries but as the magistrate (unlawfully) wrote off my AVO application t the first available opportunity, I didn't get opportunity to present it. I gave sworn evidence and yes I was cross-examined.

I am going to privately prosecute NSW Police for doing this. I highly recommend anyone who has been assaulted or harassed in custody to do the same. Even though I feel your comment about prejudice is strange, please feel free to post more questions. If you want more info about my case please visit

PS: Can I ask what you do, Vas? Are you a cop?

The AVO experiment
By InJust Us posted posted 14 August 05

Apprehended Violence Order

.. are just an idea. No one can really stop you from doing anything. There are plenty of people with criminal records, especially from my generation eg: Baxter protests.

But I am still appealing.

When we come to power all of us in parliament/government will have criminal records. All it will mean is that we came from a climate that was interested in marginalising people as much as possible. If they create too many criminals they will get a large class of us fighting back.

I note that oppressive laws and legal climates such as the Family Law Act and Domestic Violence oppress and incriminate innocent people for about 15 years until the group gets too big and sick of it, so they lobby and fight back, then laws change..recent reform for ostracised Dads is a good example. Who does the state think it is treating Dads like that?

I don't have any kids but if the state took my kids off me I'd go ballistic. No wonder kidnappings happen in these cases.

The criminal system including Department of Corrective Services and including cops are bastards in these examples. They just warehouse people and try and make things worse. They are interested in extending criminality as much as possible.

I have every confidence the system couldn't give a hoot about the status of women and families and that AVOs are just a system of extending the criminal justice system. They are rent seekers. Without AVO legislation you would never have got someone like me in the back of a police van or in custody.

AVO legislation was introduced as an emergency measure because the police were not doing their job in regards to delivering the social contract to women and children. They still don't. Nothing has changed except more innocent people are in jails. Violent people become aware of AVO law they become very manipulative.

The modern condition is that you abuse someone and get in first, and get your victim in trouble.

Related Links:

MISTREATED IN CUSTODY - NO ACCOUNTABILTY
I was in custody in NSW six weeks ago, and was a victim of an aggravated assault incited by a prison officer. Despite this happening in front of many witnesses, including correctional services officers and other detainees, and under mandatory video surveillance, a formal complaint to the NSW Commissioner of Corrective Services an his Professional Conduct Management Committee only revealed that as far as they were concerned, this didn't happen.

Community Forum on Law Enforcement Violence
This educational forum will provide an opportunity for community members to develop and share organizing strategies to address the various forms of violence perpetrated against our communities including: police brutality; race/gender profiling; sexual harassment; sexual violence; strip searches; beatings; deportation; illegal arrests, detainment, and searches; use of excessive force; and police killings.

Death in Custody: Douglas Bruce Scott
We congratulate Ms Letty Scott, her Family and her supporters, of which the writer counts himself and this Association as being, towards their successful twenty year struggle for Justice.

OUR STORIES MUST BE TOLD. THEY HAVE TO BE
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Rally to seek fresh Hickey hearings
A community rally calling for the reopening of the inquest into the death of Aboriginal teenager Thomas 'TJ' Hickey will be held at Walgett in northern New South Wales today.

Doomadgee's body released for burial
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NSW Police Force: 2 dead, $1 million dollars to catch a thief?
NSW police have expressed concern about their response to the Macquarie Fields riots in south-western Sydney after a police pursuit that killed two young youths Dylan Rayward 17, and Mathew Robertson, 19 that went horribly wrong.

Man framed for Stuttle murder to appeal

Bundaberg's Burnett River traffic bridge was the only witness to this crime?

Lawyers for the man convicted of murdering British backpacker Caroline Stuttle in Bundaberg in south-east Queensland have lodged an appeal against his conviction.

Ian Douglas Previte, 32, was given a life sentence last month after he was found guilty of forcing the 19-year-old off a traffic bridge in April 2002.

Legal Aid lodged the appeal against the conviction for robbery and murder on behalf of Previte.

It is expected to be heard before the Court of Appeal in Brisbane.

EDITORIAL:

How much weight should be given on the evidence of prison authorities and prison informers who assist police, to obtain alleged evidence in unscrupulous ways, to secure a conviction once a person has been sent to prison pending a hearing to determine their guilt? ZIP!

How much weight should be given on the evidence of the Bridge? DNA? Fingerprints?

Was there any "prime" evidence on the bridge connecting Douglas Previte or just circumstantial evidence that the police cleverly fabricated?

What about general stereotypical smears like he must be guilty because police say he's a known drug addict.

People perceive that drug addicts are desperate and therefore guilty of a crime if they happened to be in the area.

But Previte if he were a drug addict certainly would not be on his own. Does that mean that know drug addicts are more likely to be accused of desperate acts of violence because of their habit? Or because they're in the wrong place at the wrong time?

I will leave that up to the appeal judges although if that was left up to the jury in the original trial! ZZZZ they were on the nod or they just weren't given all of the facts or information they may have required for them to make and informed judgement.

Did Ms Stuttle jump?

Of course her family brought over for the trial may think that someone else murdered her opposed to the possibility she may have also committed suicide. But did the Stuttle's get the chance to even think about the possibility before being urged on by the Australian authorities and the corporate media that she had been murdered?

It was reported that finding the murderer would open the door to getting the tourists confidents back again?

But simply blaming a person, any person, opposed to proving it "beyond any reasonable doubt" is simply not good enough considering it will cost the accused if found guilty their life!

So let's not be too hasty now to please the tourist industry they can get over the smear on Australian tourism for the sake of the conviction of perhaps another innocent person in this country!

Corporate media had its hands in it as well. If you're accused of a backpacker murder you don't get any support but in fact the opposite. Sensationally dragged down into the dirt because those dogs have their hands in tourism. Makes it very difficult to beat murder when the odds are all stacked against you!

By Just Us 11 November 04

Related:

Douglas Previte set-up for Stuttle murder
Australia: A 32-year-old man has been jailed for life for murdering British backpacker Caroline Stuttle in Bundaberg in south-east Queensland on alleged evidence possibly trumped up while he was in prison?

Tourist Industry Crime and Trial By Media Coincidences

MILAT WAS FRAMED FOR TOURISM $$$$$ AND THE WINNER IS? NOT IVAN MILAT! The murders were headlines overseas. The State government's public relations machine swung into action. An unprecedented $500,000 reward was offered for the heads of the perpetrators. (Commonsense says there was more than one assailant). Head of the International Olympic Committee, Juan Samaranch, was questioning whether Australia was a safe place to visit.

Ivan Milat loses conviction appeal
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Day set aside for Falconio forensic evidence
More than a day has been set aside in the case of the man accused of murdering British backpacker Peter Falconio to hear evidence from a Northern Territory forensic scientist. Yesterday the Darwin Magistrates Court heard from mechanics and friends of the defendant Bradley John Murdoch.

Mr Bradley Murdoch to go on trial next year!
The alleged man is not the alleged Falconio killer in my book. He's alleged to have committed a crime but the Faloconio mystery remains a secret to be unlocked by time itself and more interestingly may never be unlocked at all.

Falconio magistrate closes court
THE hearing into the murder of British tourist Peter Falconio has been closed to the public. Magistrate Alasdair McGregor has closed the court for part of the testimony of Mr Falconio's girlfriend Joanne Lees.

Ch/9 News? Or Ch/9's Department of Public Prosecutions?
Bradley Murdoch committal, lawyer calls for fair hearing
The lawyer of the man accused of murdering British backpacker Peter Falconio has spoken to the media in Darwin.

Peter Beattie nominated as Australian of the year: Howard
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Tourist dollar drives set-up for crime
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Supreme Court rejects Nine appeal
CHANNEL Nine lost a Supreme Court appeal today to have a suppression order on details of the case of missing backpacker Peter Falconio lifted. The Full Bench of the NT Supreme Court today ruled Magistrate Alasdair McGregor had the power to make the order banning from publication some details of the case.

Falconio magistrate closes court
THE hearing into the murder of British tourist Peter Falconio has been closed to the public. Magistrate Alasdair McGregor has closed the court for part of the testimony of Mr Falconio's girlfriend Joanne Lees.

Innocent until proven guilty? Not in Australia's outback!
There is no way that Bradley John Murdoch can get a fair trial in the Northern Territory. The entire jury pool is already contaminated, the general public have accepted the verdict of the Northern Territory News and the NT Police State has turned on the cone of silence. Maybe some of the reporters might want to ask Director of Public Prosecutions Rex Wilde QC just how he is going to secure a conviction when a body has not been found. Surely the NT bureaucracy learnt from the Lindy Chamberlain case that it is not a good idea to jail someone for murder when you haven't got a body. Maybe they have the same people working on the case. The NT Police forensic team certainly do.

Taken "A Dingo Took My Baby!"
They were the words that Lindy Chamberlain had screamed out into the blackness of the cold night in a camping ground close to Ayers Rock, Central Australia, on the night of August 17, when she discovered that her nearly ten-week-old baby, Azaria had been taken by a dingo.

Man Says He Shot Dingo That Snatched Baby SYDNEY, Australia (July 5) - A distraught mother's scream 24 years ago that a dingo snatched her baby from a camp site near Ayers Rock in the Australian Outback ignited one of Australia's most enduring mysteries. An elderly man's claim that he retrieved the infant's bloodied body from the jaws of the wild dog has revived the case and - if true - could finally lead to the discovery of Azaria Chamberlain's body.

Australia to see the light on tourism
A total of $120 million has been earmarked for the campaign's international marketing, which tops up the Australian Tourist Commission's annual budget of $90 million. The inbound and domestic tourism industry contributes $70 billion to the economy and employs 500,000.

Ten reports $76.9 million profit
The Ten television network has reported a full-year profit of $76.9 million. Even if it were down by half on the previous year they're still greedy self-interested people who care little about the real damage done, not just in Australia but the world. That profit is obviously on top of wages and expenses yet they're still greedy enough to turn the news upside down to suit the Howard government's investment in advertising.

Douglas Previte set-up for Stuttle murder

Why didn't the corporate media show his face? A 32 year old man? Almost every convicted murderer has their face splashed about in headlines. They reported that Ian Douglas Previte hid his face, sure but the authorities usually give it out. So what made this case so different? A miscarriage of justice. Keep those backpackers coming down under and who cares?

Bundaberg's Burnett River traffic bridge was the only witness to this crime.

Australia: A 32-year-old man has been jailed for life for murdering British backpacker Caroline Stuttle in Bundaberg in south-east Queensland on alleged evidence possibly trumped up while he was in prison?

But was he made a scapegoat for the "20 billion dollar tourist industry? And were the alleged statements made by Previte consistent with true confessions made by a guilty person? In other words did Previte make the alleged statements?

Ian Douglas Previte sat expressionless in the dock as he was found guilty by the Supreme Court jury of robbing and murdering Miss Stuttle in 2002.

But did he lack expression? Or was he stunned to become the next victim of a greedy Australian tourist industry? Government and corporate interests, which includes the mainstream media, all desperate to release the tourist industry from the bridgeblock due to a killing of a backpacker in far north Queensland.

The judge said Miss Stuttle should have been enjoying a holiday of a lifetime but instead Previte threw her off Bundaberg's Burnett River traffic bridge for a "miserable few dollars and killed her in the most terrible way".

But Ian Douglas Previte should have been enjoying his life but instead Previte went down for a murder he most likely never committed. Alleged to have thrown Miss Stuttle off Bundjaberg's Burnett River traffic bridge but was he made a scapegoat for the "20 billion dollar tourist industry?

When asked if he wanted to say anything about his sentencing, Previte shook his head. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and 10 years for robbery to be served concurrently. Previte was charged with the murder and robbery of the 19-year-old after a 10-month police investigation.

Miss Stuttle's father Alan, brother Richard and former boyfriend Ian Nelson attended the trial. Alan Stuttle spoke to the media outside the court. "We are so relieved that this matter has finally be put to sleep and I think it's important now that we all move forward," he said. He said his family had endured two-and-a-half years of pain and anguish.

Prosecutor Peter Feeney told the jury the petite 19-year-old could only have been thrown from the nine metre-high Burnett River Traffic Bridge because her head barely came up to the railing. "There was an episode of considerable violence on the walkway," Mr Feeney said in his opening address to the Supreme Court murder trial in Bundaberg?

Allegedly: "Previte ignored her screams of terror and forced her over the railing."?

Mr Feeney said Previte, "a drug addict"? Had been sitting on a bench on the bridge about 9pm as Ms Stuttle walked by and had stalked her, intending to snatch her bag to get money for drugs?

Notice that Previte was labelled a "drug addict" but not the accused? If he did take drugs Previte was not unlike three quarters of other Australians? This was the first unfair statement made against the accused.

According to the prosecutor if he was a drug addict then he was also desperate? And could not be trusted? That is if he was a drug addict. Nevertheless any Australian could be labelled as drug addict and should the jury have been alert to the fact that he was this or that. He was a human being first and he was being accused. He said Previte bashed her and threw her over the railing?

Witness

But there were no witnesses? Ms Stuttle died instantly when her skull was fractured and her spine severed.

INCONSISTENT CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE?

Mr Feeney said, "Previte had made three confessions to the killing, once to jail inmates, once to police, and in writing on a picnic table at Baldwin Swamp, Bundaberg."

A) The one to jail inmates is irrelevant as this material was gained illegally after the fact from desperate prison informers in conditions that were not consistent with being described as normal in terms of living in the community. In other words a set-up.

B) Once to police, well where is the signed statement and how was it gained? The papers fail to report.

C) And in writing on a picnic table at Baldwin Swamp, Bundaberg? Again where is the proof? Someone made a mark on a table?

All these facts need to be published so that the community can understand the relevance of the alleged evidence. Juries can be bamboozled into thinking that this evidence is enough to convict a person for life but when closely examined perhaps not.

Ms Stuttle, of York in England, was on a working holiday with a childhood friend and had only been in Bundaberg, 350 kilometres north of Brisbane, for three days when tragedy struck. She was returning to the caravan park where she was staying after calling her boyfriend in England from a pay phone. Ms Stuttle's brother Richard attended court. Outside court, Mr Stuttle said the family missed his sister daily. "It gets a little bit easier, but it's still very, very difficult most days," he said.

Her 65-year-old artist father, Alan Stuttle, a contemporary of David Hockney, said visitors to Queensland should not be deterred by what happened to his daughter. "I don't want people to put a barrier up, to say: 'I aren't go to Bundaberg because of this'," he said.

"Youngsters have to have the freedom to enjoy their lives and not be worrying about security. If we hide, we let the elements that will always kill children win."

What about that this is a statement clearing the way for the tourist industry to get on with 20 billion a year industry no matter who went down for the killing?

Alan Stuttle travelled to Bundaberg to attend the trial.

But the statement by Alan Stuttle brought to you by the corporate media is typical of the tourist industries attempts to clear its name and that's all.

While he was in Australia he planed to paint the places his daughter told him about in text messages she sent home.

"The main thing for me is to see that justice is being done, because the murder of your child you'll never ever wash it off," he said.

[Doesn't matter what scapegoat is set-up for the murder or who done it.]

"It's always going to be there. I've sold all my places in Yorkshire. I couldn't bear going back to my old house and old gallery. Hopefully I've not got too many more years to live. It ruins your life."

[But it ruined the life of Douglas Previte, more likely than not just a simple scapegoat tried by media and authorities. At least if there were a witness to the murder and a decent explanation re the confession that was allegedly given by the alleged offender, then other people could could bear being an Australian citizen and not used to ensure tourism dollars like a scapegoat for the ruling class.]

Justice Peter Dutney has warned the jury to be dispassionate about the case, and not to make Previte a scapegoat for the killing.

But indeed Previte was made a scapegoat for the killing wake up Australia before you become the next corporate victim. The fact is they don't care who they get as long as the gate to Australian tourism remains open.

Well Mr Alan Stuttle I hope justice was done for you and your family if the real killer takes another backpacker somewhere down the track then justice will not be done for them. Is someone going to make sure what was put to the jury was consistent with the guilt of the accused?

Your guess is as good as mine because in Australia today there is no Legal Aid to appeal the worst case.

By Just Us 18 October 04

Related:

Tourist Industry Crime and Trial By Media Coincidences

MILAT WAS FRAMED FOR TOURISM $$$$$ AND THE WINNER IS? NOT IVAN MILAT! The murders were headlines overseas. The State government's public relations machine swung into action. An unprecedented $500,000 reward was offered for the heads of the perpetrators. (Commonsense says there was more than one assailant). Head of the International Olympic Committee, Juan Samaranch, was questioning whether Australia was a safe place to visit.

Ivan Milat loses conviction appeal
Ivan Milat today lost an application in the High Court to appeal against his 1996 conviction for murdering seven backpackers. The 59-year-old had sought special leave to appeal the murder convictions and one count of detaining a person for advantage without legal representation, which includes Legal Aid.

Day set aside for Falconio forensic evidence
More than a day has been set aside in the case of the man accused of murdering British backpacker Peter Falconio to hear evidence from a Northern Territory forensic scientist. Yesterday the Darwin Magistrates Court heard from mechanics and friends of the defendant Bradley John Murdoch.

Mr Bradley Murdoch to go on trial next year!
The alleged man is not the alleged Falconio killer in my book. He's alleged to have committed a crime but the Faloconio mystery remains a secret to be unlocked by time itself and more interestingly may never be unlocked at all.

Falconio magistrate closes court
THE hearing into the murder of British tourist Peter Falconio has been closed to the public. Magistrate Alasdair McGregor has closed the court for part of the testimony of Mr Falconio's girlfriend Joanne Lees.

Ch/9 News? Or Ch/9's Department of Public Prosecutions?
Bradley Murdoch committal, lawyer calls for fair hearing
The lawyer of the man accused of murdering British backpacker Peter Falconio has spoken to the media in Darwin.

Peter Beattie nominated as Australian of the year: Howard
Bradley Murdoch the man alleged to have murdered English tourist Peter Falconio who has been acquitted of rape and abduction charges in the South Australian District Court.

Tourist dollar drives set-up for crime
The man alleged to have murdered English tourist Peter Falconio has been acquitted of rape and abduction charges in the South Australian District Court. Bradley John Murdoch, 45, was charged with two counts of rape, two counts of false imprisonment and two counts of indecent assault after an alleged incident in South Australia's Riverland in August last year.

Supreme Court rejects Nine appeal
CHANNEL Nine lost a Supreme Court appeal today to have a suppression order on details of the case of missing backpacker Peter Falconio lifted. The Full Bench of the NT Supreme Court today ruled Magistrate Alasdair McGregor had the power to make the order banning from publication some details of the case.

Falconio magistrate closes court
THE hearing into the murder of British tourist Peter Falconio has been closed to the public. Magistrate Alasdair McGregor has closed the court for part of the testimony of Mr Falconio's girlfriend Joanne Lees.

Innocent until proven guilty? Not in Australia's outback!
There is no way that Bradley John Murdoch can get a fair trial in the Northern Territory. The entire jury pool is already contaminated, the general public have accepted the verdict of the Northern Territory News and the NT Police State has turned on the cone of silence. Maybe some of the reporters might want to ask Director of Public Prosecutions Rex Wilde QC just how he is going to secure a conviction when a body has not been found. Surely the NT bureaucracy learnt from the Lindy Chamberlain case that it is not a good idea to jail someone for murder when you haven't got a body. Maybe they have the same people working on the case. The NT Police forensic team certainly do.

Taken "A Dingo Took My Baby!"
They were the words that Lindy Chamberlain had screamed out into the blackness of the cold night in a camping ground close to Ayers Rock, Central Australia, on the night of August 17, when she discovered that her nearly ten-week-old baby, Azaria had been taken by a dingo.

Man Says He Shot Dingo That Snatched Baby SYDNEY, Australia (July 5) - A distraught mother's scream 24 years ago that a dingo snatched her baby from a camp site near Ayers Rock in the Australian Outback ignited one of Australia's most enduring mysteries. An elderly man's claim that he retrieved the infant's bloodied body from the jaws of the wild dog has revived the case and - if true - could finally lead to the discovery of Azaria Chamberlain's body.

Australia to see the light on tourism
A total of $120 million has been earmarked for the campaign's international marketing, which tops up the Australian Tourist Commission's annual budget of $90 million. The inbound and domestic tourism industry contributes $70 billion to the economy and employs 500,000.

Ten reports $76.9 million profit
The Ten television network has reported a full-year profit of $76.9 million. Even if it were down by half on the previous year they're still greedy self-interested people who care little about the real damage done, not just in Australia but the world. That profit is obviously on top of wages and expenses yet they're still greedy enough to turn the news upside down to suit the Howard government's investment in advertising.